Footrest for prevention of disorders of venous blood flow: of varicose vein and deep vein thrombosis of feet

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns medicine and hygiene areas. Footrest for prevention of disorders of venous blood flow (of varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis of feet), comprising: the support (supports) of feet, which allows to do simple prophylactic motions by feet in ankle joint and also allows to regulate the amplitude of described motions of feet; a unit of sound-alarm; an alarm-lamp; the communication interface; a sensors, which allows to measure amplitude, frequency and quantity of motions of the feet in ankle joint; a device of control, which capable to compare amplitude, frequency and quantity of motions of the feet in ankle joint, executed by user in certain interval of time, with preset parameters (for which there is no stagnation of blood and there is no creation of blood clots in veins of feet) and capable (if measured data are not conforms to preset parameters) activate the unit sound-alarm and an alarm-lamp for reminding the user of necessity of renewal of prophylactic exercises of feet or capable transmit the alarm message through communication interface.

1. FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention concerns medicine and hygiene areas.

2. TECHNICAL LEVEL

It is known that long confining job leads to fatigue of feet. Therefore desks long ago manufactured with supports for feet in the form of a crossbar mounted between a legs or a lateral stands of a desks. It gave the chance to change periodically position of feet, laying them on crossbar to making simple motions by feet in ankle joint.

The “computerization” of society has sharply increased percent of the population of globe which spends the most part of time sitting at a table—not only in the course of works, but also on rest (at computer games or in a network the Internet). The problem of confining job amplified by a sedentary way of life. Established that long confining job conduce to occurrence of infringements of venous blood circulation in shins of feet that can lead, at first, to varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency and then to very dangerous thrombosis (or thrombophlebitis) of veins of feet.

The given facts were an incitement to inventing of various footrests, exercisers, massage apparatus for feet which would usable for decrease of fatigue, increase of muscular activity of feet, execution of preventive exercises. Supports for feet and exercisers of feet, in particular, are described in following patents and patent applications:

-   -   patent application RUSSIA 99103559/12 (3 Feb. 1999, A63B23/04);     -   the patent of the U.S. Pat. No. 7,081,099 (25 Jul. 2006,         A61H15/00);     -   the patent of the U.S. Pat. No. 7,239,839 (13 Nov. 2007,         A47C7/50).

Among analogues the closest to the invention is the device described in item 1 of the claims of the patent application RUSSIA No. 2005141536/12. The device represents a platform for feet. That platform can oscillate in cross-direction of longitudinal axis of a platform, and degree of an bias of a platform can be regulated with use of various adjusting mechanisms. Such device allows to do simple motions by feet in ankle joint. Motions must be doing with wide amplitude. Motions are simple, but effective enough for prevention of varicose vein, phlebitis and thrombophlebitis.

The described device has a drawback limiting its efficiency as device of prophylaxis. Apparatus may be used only in special time assigned for this purpose (for example, in centre of physical culture or in exercise room), but not in the course of sedentary works. Certainly, people having very strong motivation to prevent diseases of veins, can regularly use such device in the course of sedentary works. However, for all others it is not really, because, work or other employment will strongly distract them from of prophylactic exercises. In addition, the design of the device is enough complex and resource.

3. DISCLOSING OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the invention:

-   -   expansion of conditions, in which we can effectively use of the         device as preventive means from diseases of veins of feet;     -   enhancement of preventive efficiency of the device;     -   simplification of the mechanical complexity of device;     -   reduction of cost price of device.         Purpose achievement warranted by creation of possibility of         effective exploitation of the device in working time or in time         of other employment to which the person gives a great attention.

For this purposes:

-   -   a/ the platform for feet is excluded from apparatus. Cross-bar         (without platform) allows to do simple motions by feet in ankle         joint. The height of installation of a cross-bar defines         possible amplitude of motions of feet and can be regulated for         the size of a sole of feet of the concrete person;     -   b/ the footrest must be equipped with the sensors providing         definition of the fact that user does motions by feet (by a         soles) in ankle joint with the big amplitude. The sensors are         allows to measure frequency and quantity of such motions. Also,         in the footrest there are control device, sound-alarm and         alarm-lamp. The control device is capable to compare frequency         and quantity of such motions of the feet executed by the person         during certain intervals of time, with preset boundary         conditions at which there is no stagnation of blood and there is         no creation of blood clots in veins of feet. If parameters,         defined by sensors, is not conforms to boundary conditions, the         control device actuates sound-alarm and alarm-lamp for reminding         the user of necessity of renewal of prophylactic exercises. If         in hardware of device there is the communication interface he         can transmits the information from control device into the         computer or into devices of remote monitoring, for example, to         management of the equipment.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

The drawings are represents some of variants of realizations of the invention:

on FIG. 1—one of the many variants of mechanical design of the device;

on FIG. 2—one of the variants of the schemes of electric functional.

5. REALIZATION OF INVENTION

On FIG. 1 the variant of mechanical design of the device is presented. The footrest consists of the basis 1, and of the cross-bar 5, mounted on two racks 4, which providing possibility of regulation of height of a cross-bar over of the basis. In back part of the basis 1 and in forward part of the basis 1 underneath each of two protective plates 3 and 6 are mounted sensors 2, which provide definition of the fact of touching of feet of the user to the basis (to the protective plate). By selection of height of a cross-bar 5 it is possible to set the needed amplitude of motions of the feet, accessible to the concrete user. Cross-bar 5 atop which user puts his feet, allows make simple motions by feet in ankle joint. It is necessary alternately to touch to basis at first by socks, after by heels, after by socks, after afresh by heels etc.

Are possible: a/ other variants of mechanical design of footrest; b/ other types of sensors of the motions by feet in ankle joint, On FIG. 2 the variant of the scheme of an electric functional of the footrest is represented. The scheme includes two sensors of position of feet 2, the control device (programmed microcontroller) 7, the alarm lamp 9, the sound-alarm 10, the selector of working programs 11 and also the communication interface 8. Sensors of position of the feet 2 give to the microcontroller 7 the information on amplitude, frequency and quantity of motions of the feet in ankle joint which made by the user in certain interval of time. If measured parameters is not conforms to boundary conditions, the microcontroller 7 will actuate sound-alarm 10 and alarm-lamp 9, to remind the user of necessity of renewal of prophylactic muscular activity. Communication interface 8 allows download the information onto screen of monitor of computer and switch on sound alarm through sound system of the computer. Besides, if it is necessary, for example, at long use of the computer by children, the microcontroller can interrupt work of the computer-game program or in general switch off the computer. The computer interface allows to displays signals of alarm on the TV-screen or a mobile phone also. The selector of programs 11 allows selects modes of operation of footrest (for example, to regulate degree of muscular activity).

Other variants of connection and teamwork of elements of the scheme of a device are possible. 

1. Footrest for prevention of disorders of venous blood flow, of varicose of vein and of thrombophlebitis containing the basis and support of feet which allows to make simple motions by feet in ankle joint and to regulate amplitude of described motions of feet by height of installation of a support concerning the support basis, but DIFFERS FROM THE EARLIER ONES because the footrest includes: the elements of sound-alarm, alarm-lamp and (or) by the computer interface; the sensors which can to define of the fact that user makes motions of feet in ankle with the needed amplitude and which can to supervise frequency and quantity of such motions; the control device, capable to compare frequency and quantity of such motions of the feet which executed by the user during certain intervals of time, with preset boundary conditions at which there is no stagnation of blood and there is no creation of blood clots in veins of feet. If measured parameters is not conforms to boundary conditions, the control device actuates sound-alarm and alarm-lamp, or downloads the information onto the screen of monitor of the computer (or onto the TV screen) for reminding the user of necessity of renewal of prophylactic exercises or transmits signals onto remote terminal of monitoring of muscular activity of feet of the user. 